True, true and true.

Posted By: Gary, Santana 2023A, Milwaukee
Date: 6/11/08 12:28p.m.

Report: outside forum guidelines

In Response To: If (Bob Frak)

I consider the 2023 the best kept secret of trailerable sailboats. I'd never heard of them when I found the one I have. To damned many great features that suited just what I was looking for. Bought her about 8-9 months before I expected to buy one, simply was to good of a match (for what I wanted). I just finished my tank. She's a 1993 purchased December of '92, hence titled at time of sale as a '92. After cutting her open, she was in great shape, could have lasted for years without doing the tank. However, she WAS going to need it, eventually. As is, I rplaced and closed her up using the original wood (no reason to replace any wood). I did end up replacing the lower compression 2X4's. Didn't actually 'have' to do this, but did anyway, as these 2X4's appeared to be what was first being adversely effected by the water. Doing the tank is both easy, and hard. Easy as in the work you do, hard as in 'difficult' to reach some places while laying on your back. Basic, simple work, actually, just time consuming. This layer that Tom used... holds great promise. I actually wanted to use it, until I found out he'd just applied it. As I told him, I sure wish he'd done it years ago so we could see if it stood the test of time, as it would certainly be much easier and much faster. Anyway, my point is, is that this tank your thinking of may just as well NOT be a problem at the moment, and is easily remedied, assuming you're not scared to do the work yourself. Additionally, you can have the cabin sole, and also the forward bulkhead, measured as to how 'wet' the wood is (forward bulkhead via the battery compartment). Can't do the aft bulkhead, however, unless there's access deckplates in the air chamber. I had this done at purchase (some type of ultrasonic device that probably every marina and surveyor has). That would give you a fair indication of the sole, besides just bouncing on it looking for soft spots. Also, while it may sound funny, feel free to put your ear on the hull just under the air chamber, have a friend 'rock' the boat from the transom, port to starboard, back again, several times. If there's water present, then the tank is leaking. But it would be wrong of you to 'assume' that there is an immediate need for ballast tank repairs. I could have gone, as was, for yeras to come, 'tho the repair, the cost, the time and enrgy to do so would have gone correspondingly higher. Awesome boat, the best, FOR ME, not neccessarily for others.